MONTVALE, N.J.—Pascack Valley Regional High School District Superintendent Dr. Sarah Bilotti has resigned, effective June 30, and will become the new superintendent of the Eastern Camden County Regional School District on July 1. Bilotti has served as PVRHS superintendent since July 1, 2022.
Bilotti announced her resignation—and her new position—in an email to district parents on Friday, April 4, around 3:30 p.m., stating that she had accepted “an opportunity to lead a regional district in South Jersey, which will allow me to be closer to my family.”
Efforts to reach Bilotti for comment were not immediately returned.
The Pascack Hills Trailblazer broke the news of Bilotti’s resignation online on March 28, citing a letter posted March 24 on the Eastern Camden Regional School District website welcoming Bilotti as the new superintendent.
Elena Chow, Camden Regional’s school board president, said in the welcome letter, “After months of interviews, forums with the community, and thoughtful conversations with staff and faculty, it is my pleasure, on behalf of the Eastern Camden County Board of Education, to announce that we have unanimously selected Dr. Sarah Bilotti as our next superintendent, pending approval of her contract by the District Solicitor and Executive County Superintendent.”
At the April 7 Pascack Valley Regional District school board meeting, the board accepted Bilotti’s resignation “with regret,” according to consent agenda item 1A under the Human Resources section. Only trustee Michael Weaver abstained from the vote. He did not publicly state a reason.
No public comments on Bilotti’s resignation were made by trustees or the public at the April 7 meeting. The Pascack Valley Regional High School District Board of Education includes nine elected members representing the district’s four sending towns. The board is made up of three members from Hillsdale, two each from Montvale, River Vale, and Woodcliff Lake.
In her April 4 letter, Bilotti wrote, “I witnessed firsthand the extraordinary efforts of our teachers and staff, who work tirelessly to provide a nurturing and enriching educational environment for our students. Their commitment to fostering academic excellence and personal growth is truly remarkable. I am immensely proud of who they are, and what they represent, as educators.”
Bilotti’s starting salary in July 2022 was $240,000 annually, plus benefits. (We reported on her joining the district in “‘Energetic, innovative’ Sarah Bilotti next PVRHSD superintendent” on March 25, 2022.)
PVRHS borough liaison Robert Colletti Jr. told council members on April 15 that school board president Gini Varghese said the board was “not sure” whether it would appoint an acting or interim superintendent and was vetting consulting firms to manage the upcoming superintendent search.
Weaver, along with trustees Stephanie Huang and Kristin Martin, also abstained from voting on the appointment of Mark Russo as director of curriculum, instruction and assessment. Russo was appointed by a 6–0 vote, with three abstentions.
Only Weaver explained his abstention. He said he believed the next superintendent should make that hire, given that the district was now in transition.
“That hiring should be done by the next superintendent. No reflection on the committee. No reflection on the candidate, because I know he’s going to do a great job in that role,” said Weaver.
He added, “I believe it’s time we take a step back and establish—or reestablish—a strong foundation on which we can grow over the next six to seven years.” He said the “next most important job” for trustees is identifying the district’s next leader, which was why he abstained.